Singing Canio in Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): November 14m
Covering Canio: November 17, 18m, 20, 25m, 30, December 2m

The saga of a jilted lover and a jealous husband, Pagliacci tells the tale of Canio, the leader of a traveling commedia dell’arte troupe. Canio is the clown who must laugh, and make others laugh, while masking his grief after learning that his wife Nedda has betrayed him with another man. In the end, art meets tragedy in a rage of passion and jealousy.

Canio - Cooper Nolan/Dane Suarez*
Nedda - Maria Natale/Katharine Zdunich-Gunnink*
Tonio - Anthony Clark Evans/Trevor Neal*
Silvio - Emmett O'Hanlon/Thomas West*
Beppe - Mason Gates/Andrew Metzger*

Conductor - Christian Reif/Christopher James Ray*
Stage Director - Chuck Hudson

* denotes November 14 performance

Reprising the role of Rodolfo in La bohème (Puccini): Dec. 8, 13, 15, 21

Likely the most important production in POP history, La bohème gave POP their brand (and mascot.)  The hipsters will return to the Ebell Club for eight performances in the 4th revival of Artistic Director Josh Shaw's production.

Dane will be singing opposite his wife, soprano Kerriann Otaño in her role debut as Mimì.

Rodolfo - Dane Suarez*/JJ Lopez**
Mimì - Kerriann Otaño*/Maya Rothfuss**
Marcello - Joel Balzun*/Ben Lowe**
Musetta - Elle Valera*/Aubrey Trujillo-Scarr**
Schaunard - E. Scott Levin
Colline - Vincent Grana
Benoit/Alcindoro/Parpignol - William Grundler

Music Director - Parisa Zaeri
Stage Director - Josh Shaw

* denotes Dec 8, 13, 15, 21 performances; ** denotes Dec 7, 14, 20, 22 performances

Singing Greenhorn in Moby-Dick (Heggie/Scheer): February 6m
Covering Greenhorn: February 9, 10m, 14, 17m, 22, 24m

COMPANY PREMIERE! Moby-Dick is an opera based on the classic novel by Herman Melville. Set in 1820, it tells the story of Captain Ahab of the whaleship Pequod, who after losing one of his legs to a frightening white whale, becomes obsessed with finding and destroying the creature at any cost. Only one crew member, first mate Starbuck, realizes the deadly implications of Ahab’s obsession and the risks to the ship’s crew. Since its 2010 debut at the Dallas Opera, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s opera adaption of Melville’s classic novel has captivated audiences with its inventive storytelling, spectacular music, sets and visual effects. Performances conducted by Music Director and Principal Conductor Joseph Marcheso; Kristine McIntyre serves as Stage Director.

Ahab - Richard Cox/Alex Boyer*
Greenhorn - Noah Stewart/Dane Suarez*
Starbuck - Justin Ryan
Queequeg - Ashraf Sewailam/Babatunde Akinboboye*
Pip - Jasmine Habersham/Maya Kherani*
Gardiner - Trevor Neal
Flask - Mason Gates

Conductor - Joe Marcheso
Stage Director - Kristine McIntyre

* denotes February 6 performance

Singing Erik in Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner): March 1, 3m

Wagner arrives at the BCO!  At the tender age of 26, Wagner was already beginning to reach the height of his compositional powers (he would follow this opera with Tannhauser and Lohengrin).  Based on Heinrich Heine's retelling of the legend, The Flying Dutchman is the story of a sea captain in a ghostly vessel cursed to sail forever for blasphemy, who can only be redeemed by the love of a faithful woman.  Every seven years, the Dutchman is cast ashore in search of a wife who will release him from his curse.  The sea captain Daland, enticed by promises of gold, offers the hand of his daughter Senta.  Senta falls in love with the mysterious stranger, but their hopes are dashed when his identity is revealed.  Senta's faithfulness is ultimately the Dutchman's salvation, but through her death rather than her love.

The Dutchman - Todd Thomas
Senta - Alexandra LoBianco
Erik - Dane Suarez
Daland - Justin Hopkins
Steuermann - Orin Strunk
Mary - Kate Farrar

Conductor - James Harp

Singing Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Puccini): April 13, 14m, 18, 21m, 26, 28m

This is Puccini’s heartbreaking love story of betrayal about an American naval officer who marries a young Japanese girl out of convenience only to leave her as she faithfully awaits his return. Set in 1890’s Japan, this is Puccini’s devastating saga of devotion, tradition, and sacrifice, and one of the most beloved operas of all time. Brad Dalton returns as Stage Director; Joseph Marcheso conducts.

Cio-Cio San - Maria Natale
Pinkerton - Dane Suarez
Sharpless - Trevor Neal
Suzuki - Renee Rapier
Goro - Mason Gates
Bonze - Philip Skinner
Yamadori - Ben Brady
Kate Pinkerton - Katherine Sanford

Conductor - Joseph Marcheso/Dennis Doubin
Director - Brad Dalton